Table.



L. MILLER.

TABLE.

7 APPLICATION FILED DEG. 4, 1913.

Patented July 28, 1914.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 1.

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L. MILLER.

TABLE. v APPLIGATION FILED DEG. 4, 1913.

1,104,917 Patented July 28,1914.

2 BHBETSSHEET 2.

LOUIS MILLER, 01? DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TABLE.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented July as, 1914..

Application filed December 4. 1913. Serial No. 804,749.

To all 'Uimmit may concern Be it known that I, Louis MILLER, a subject of the King of Austria, residing at De troit, in the county of \Vayne and State of .Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to tables, and the objects of my invention are to provide a table with a plurality of secret compartments maintained in a normally closed position by concealed locks which prevent the compartments from being rifled or the contents thereof surreptitiously removed, and to furnish the table with means for antomatically opening the compartments thereof .when released by a person familiar with the lock construction equipped with a )roper key.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein- I Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table showing compartments thereof in an open position; Fig. 2 is a plan of the table partly broken away and partly in horizontal section; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the table illustrating the pedestal compartments; Fig. 4 is a horizontal "sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, showing the line of section upon which Fig. 3 is taken, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the table showing a drawer lock and key.

In describing my invention by aid of the drawings above referred to I desire to point out that I intend said views as merely illustrative of an example whereby my invention may be applied in practice, and I do not limit my claims to the precise construction and arrangement of parts indicated. The following description is therefore to be construed broadly as including substitute arrangements and constructions which are the obvious equivalent of those shown.

In the drawing, 1 denotes a hollow table pedestal having a suitable base 2 provided with feet 3. The pedestal l is preferably rectangular in cross section and has the bottom thereof closed, while the upper end of the pedestal is in communication with a rectangular opening 4.- in a table top 5 supported by the pedestal 1. The table top 5 is illustrated as being substantially square, but in reality has eight sides with four of the side walls of a less length than the remaining walls. The opening 4 of the table v top is centrally thereof and said table top is formed of spaced top and bottom boards (3 and 7, said boards being spaced apart by the side walls 8 of the table top and by spacers 9 forming the side walls of'the opening 4. The upper end of the pedestal 1 terminates at the bottom side of the top board 6, as best shown in Fig. 3, thereby providing a seat 10 for a head plate 11,

carried by the upper end of a lift 12. The

lift 12 is rectangular in cross section and the side walls thereof are provided with longitudinal guide strips 13 and 14 slidably mounted in grooves 15 formed in opposite walls of the pedestal 1. The lift 12 has an open side and is provided with horizontal shelves 16 dividing the lift into a plurality of compartments 17. One of the compartments has pigeonholcs 18 and this particular compartment is closed by a hinged door 19. The bottom of the lift 12 is closed and is adapted to be engaged by a helio volute compression spring 20 located in the bottom of the pedestal 1 and held under tension or compression when the lift 12 is in a lowered position with the head plate 11 thereof flush with the top board 6 of the table top.

To retain the lift 12 in a lowered position the guide strip 13 is provided with an openingor recess 21 adjacent to the head plate 11.

A side wall of the pedestal 1, below the bottom plate 7 of the, table top, is provided with an opening 22 and slidably mounted in said opening and adapted to enter the opening or recess 21 is a locking pin 23. The outer end of the locking pin is connected to a resilient member or spring 24 secured to .the outer side of the pedestal and housed within a recess molding strip 25 serving as a filler between the pedestal 1 and the table to a. The moldin 'stri) 25 has an o enin b D 26 adjacent to the resilient member 24, whereby a key 27 having a hook or bill 28 can be inserted in the opening 26 to engage the member 24 and shift the locking pin 23 out of engagement with the lift. The member 24: retains the locking pin 23 normally in engagement with the guide strip when the lift is lowered, the lockm pin 23 enters the opening or recess 21 an retains the lift in a closed position with the spring 20 compressed. When the locking pin 23 is withdrawn from the opening or recess 21, the spring 20 elevates the lift 12 suihciently for the head plate 11 thereof to be gripped and the lift raised whereby easy access can be had to either of the compartments 17 thereof.

Opposed walls 8 of the table top are provided with openings 29 for drawers 3O slidably arranged between drawer-ways 31 connecting the top and bottom boards 6 and 7 of the table top. The inner ends of the drawer ways 31 are connected by transverse stop boards 32 against which are arranged compression springs 33 held under compression when the drawers 30 are closed. The stop boards 32 are provided with resilient locking members 34 extending through openings 35 in said board and havln hooks or bills 36 adapted to extend throug openin s 37 provided therefor in the inner end wa is of the drawers 30. I

The table top, within the seat 10, is cut away, as at 38, whereby easy access can be had to the locking members 34: when the lift 12 is in an elevated position. A key similar to the keys 27 can be employed for moving the locking members 34, but it is impossible to open the drawers 30 until after the lift 12 has been opened. When the locking members 34 are shifted, the compression springs 33 impart sufiicient impetus to the drawers to open the same whereby easy access can be had to the contents of the drawers. With the drawers in a closed 'position the outer end walls thereof are flush with the side walls of the table and it is practically impossible to detect the location of the drawers. This is also true of the lift 12 when in a 13 and,

sent a neat and attractive closed position as the head plate 11 represents the center panel of the table top.

The lower end of the guide strip 13 can be rovided with an opening or recess 39, as s own in Fig. 3, whereby the locking pin 23.will retain the lift 12 in an elevated or raised position. The members 24 and 34 constitute concealed locks and various types of keys can be employed for manipulating the same. It is preferable to make the table of the best qualities of wood with the parts thereof accuratelyfitted and finished to preappearance. What I claim is l. A table comprising a hollow pedestal I adapted to contain a lift, a table top carried by said pedestal and having a central onening adapted to be closed by the top of the lift arranged therein, longitudinal guide strips carried by said lift, drawers arranged in the table top, locks concealed within the table top for locking-the drawers in a closed position, access being had to said looks when the lift of the table pedestal is in an elevated position and a lock operable in said pedestal under the table top and adapted to engage one of said strips to hold said lift in a closed position.

2. A table comprising a edestal, a table top provided with a centra opening, drawers movable in said table top and having the inner ends thereof contiguous to the opening in said table top, means concealed within said table top at the opening thereof for locking said drawers in a closed position, and means adapted to close the opening of said table top.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatfire in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS MILLER.

Witnesses:

ANNA M. Donn, OTTO F. BARTHEL. 

